My Joy List
June 17th - 23rd: a quote on space, BiBi deliciousness in London, & Ruby becoming a WOMAN!
You’re reading a newsletter from Syd, an NYC-born gal who quit her “golden handcuffs” job and moved to Amsterdam to follow her heart’s calls for a path less traveled. Here, I share the challenges and wins of my own journey from people pleasing & perfectionism to authenticity, balance, joy, & freedom. Beyond this page, I coach fellow high achievers along their own journey. I also share their stories in a podcast, The Path Less Traveled. You may find comfort, empowerment, inspiration, and/or community. Welcome 🫶🏻
Hi my sunshiney loves!
I love this quote I heard in one of Tara Brach’s podcast eps (I think it’s the episode I mention below in the “other thoughts” section):
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
―Viktor E. Frankl
This rings so true to my experience with personal growth and cultivating a life I truly love—one that aligns with my values and brings out the best in me.
And then I also realized: that space is essential for noticing joy.
Joy is always there, but it’s not relentless. It’s not going to bang down your door begging you to notice it. It’s quieter than that. If you feel like joy is hard to come by, hard to feel, you may ask yourself: is my door open to joy? do I leave space to welcome joy?
Tab-hopping on your computer, jumping from scanning your inbox to scrolling through your Instagram and TikTok feeds to online shopping, finishing one task and immediately checking your to-do list for the next task—there is no space for joy.
Yes, there are moments when life feels heavy because of events out of your control, but even in those moments, joy is just around the corner, waiting for you to make space to welcome her.
Joy felt a bit distant to me in various stretches over the past few months—the feel-it-in-my-whole-body kind of joy—and on reflection, I can see it’s because I was relentlessly scrolling for wedding stuff and apartments, task-hopping, and inconsistent with my meditation practice.
I’ve adjusted for each of those things, and joy’s been sliding back through my door :)
In case you missed it,
I released episode 4 of The Path Less Traveled last Friday and I really think you’re going to love it. It’s with my incredible friend, mentor, and role model, Dani Cruz. Read more about and/or listen to it here (also via Spotify + Apple).
Other thoughts/ideas I’m mulling:
Tara Brach’s podcast episode on informal practices to bring mindfulness and compassion into day-to-day experiences. This one helps answer: how do we turn fleeting states into enduring traits? Some other highlights sticking with me:
Set an intention at the start of the day and THEN tie it to a few specific moments throughout the day when you’re likely to lose a sense of presence and go into autopilot. More likely to remember. And then, reflection at end of day is key—not to judge, but to understand patterning and learn for future.
Slow down. When we walk half as fast we take in twice as much.
One thing at a time.
Less evaluating what I did, am doing, or will do. More being, right here, right now.
And now it’s time for the list! Happy joy spotting :)
Joy spotting: the practice of noticing little moments of joy surrounding us all the time (more)
recalling Ruby’s birthday card to me
the way rubs jumped all over A when she woke up
The window framed with planters across from ekoplaza
The line of ducks peacefully swimming next to the quiet, shaded wood chip-lined path in the park
closing my eyes to meditate while standing next to the bush of roses in the rose garden
pausing to take in the abundance of colors all over the rose garden
Jumping up and down in the kitchen when I learned I got accepted to MAPP
The shock when Ruby started humping her big doggy for the first time
Nicknaming Ruby Humpty Dumpty
realizing Ruby got her period for the first time :’)
the video of em and gites congratulating me
the new magenta flowers blooming on our tree
The warm, jovial energy of our waiter, Midgy, at Bibi in London
The sparkling Sencha and Jasmine teas from Saicho
The melt-in-my-mouth cheese bite to kick off lunch at Bibi
The goat kebab smeared in roti with the green sauce and onions
The congenial vibes amongst the chefs and waiters
The outrageously perfect mango rice pudding dessert at Bibi
The romantically planter-lined townhomes while walking around Marylebone in London
The lush, abundant green area under that giant tree in Hyde park
Pausing to fully soak in said green area
All the blue pedal boats on the pond in Hyde park
The lightness I felt after taking off my backpack
the breathtaking beauty of the inside of Royal Albert Hall in London
The man completely lost in the music, with his passionately gyrating hips and flailing arms up to the left of the stage at the Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros + London Philharmonic show
The electricity of the whole crowd belting “inspiration”
A laughing at my joke about his responsibility to look out the window on his side of the car instead of mine
using my finger as a knife to smear jam and clotted cream on my biscuit from The Muffin Man on the plane
The white feather sticking out of the elbow of my gray pullover sweater
I really had fun putting this together today. It’s a lovely change after a few weeks of joy lists that didn’t feel so fun to organize (& what’s the joy in that!). Thanks for being here again to read it all <3
Sending you a big hug. And if you’re experiencing intense heat, stay cool!
Love,
Syd